Ultimatum

Summary

When multiple stories and paths come together, teamwork is certainly key. In this tale of infinite and undecipherable plots, what is really going on? figure out in this unyielding fight for something more than just their lives.

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Ultimatum - Oscar Li

Ultimatum

For all my friends and family.

Thank you to everyone who let me use their names.

Special thanks to Filip and Max, my best friends, for some creative ideas and some descriptions. Thank you to anyone who gave me an idea or support.

Hope you enjoy the book.

Sorry for the first few chapters being so short. That’s bad on my part.

Prologue

I was always cheerful, and had everything I could’ve ever wanted. Loving friends, family, and even strangers. Everything was perfect. I was in a nice city away from main civilization, and we like to call the place serene-mist, since it was so peaceful. A school painted a bold grey was located right beside my house. It usually went by Ultimatum, which was deprived from the word that generally meant a choice. It wasn’t an actual word, but it was a name now to us. If I had to give it a meaning it would be the final one. I was just a feeling from inside. I giggled at myself. Being thirteen was fun, since it’s a stepping stone into teen years. It was about time to go to school as it was in burning daylight. I glanced back at a model city I had made. I had once gotten a dream that I was standing in a field, and it was a field in a city I had created. I became obsessed with that dream, and built this model city as to what it would look like. I still had yet to find a way to keep the water moving but the same water so I wouldn’t waste any. There was a very fast moving river near the edge, under quite a large cliff. I wished that I had a replica of it that wouldn’t make me sad to destroy it. It would make me feel all powerful and in control. I stepped outside, thinking it was time for school. This place held its splendour for over fifty years, and I inhaled a large breath, letting the sun sweep over me as my smile grew even wider. I crossed the bed of grass on my lawn, the grass swaying in the breeze. I remembered playing with my friends there, running around, or sitting and chatting. This place would last a life time, and so would my memories. I picked a single flower out from the ground, and smelled it. I laughed. This place was so tranquil it was hard to not have a permanent smile. I looked at the flower, and then something intrigued me. There was a small ball in it, no bigger that a marble. I pulled it out and it suddenly grew to the size of a small balloon. I was shocked, but I just put it in my bag, not worried. We didn’t have problems, so I assumed it was some phenomenon just like this island existing. I approached the small field in the back of the school. There, all my friends were waiting for me. I greeted them all, one by one, and we sat down chatting. In the middle, my mind traced back to the orb. I brung it out and showed everyone. They all gasped them at the beautiful sight. People were trickling in to the field waiting for school to start were now crowding around. For once a smart kid who didn’t talk to me was nearing me curious. It was like a beautiful marble, but an orb now, with wisps of frozen coloured smoke in between. It was like a flowing silk to. I held it out to him, not speaking since I knew he wouldn’t respond. He knew almost everything anyways. He reached out for it, but recoiled, as if shocked, and shook his hand. He scowled and gave me glare then just walked away. I frowned somehow, and stared into it. Inside of it a small thread of what was inside seemed to have turned a deep purple. Maybe I was imagining it. Then, a sudden strong wind whipped up, and a vortex formed, taking the orb with it. Then, rifts in the spaces where people were standing started opening. People were getting sucked up and they disappeared. I heard screams and for the first time in forever, peace was broken. People with desperate cries got taken away. I clung to my best friend, a sweet girl who cared about everyone. She started crying into my shoulder, and I ran, clutching her hand. I ran into my house and slammed the door, with my friend in tow. She had a terrified expression in her deep blue eyes. The orb suddenly appeared and hovered over my model city that I built. I stared at it blankly, not knowing what to do. It was almost completely dark now, with one last thread still bright. Bright blue. I turned, and dove towards my friend, but it was too late. One last rift opened and took her with it. She cried out and I cried out too. Tears formed in my eyes as the rift closed before I could jump in after it. I looked back at the orb. There wasn’t any colour left. It was just an empty black orb, sitting there, emitting purple wisps of air. I glared at it and picked it up. I did only what I thought I could. I smashed the orb against my model city, and in a bright blast, the orb exploded, taking the city in, creating a swirl like a small black hole. Something was pulling me towards it. NO! I cried. Help! There was no one though. The last thing I felt was something that felt like being swallowed whole. I curled up into a ball, and lost consciousness.

Chapter 1 Oscar

Will this be worth it? I thought as a clump of dirt went in my mouth. On second thought, it had better be. Too late to turn back now though, even if I could stop, I’d be started up again roughly by everyone behind me. That's right, I thought it would be a good idea to go first, sliding down a dirt tunnel that goes to who knows where. It was hopefully a better place than what we used to call life, which was essentially nothing, though we didn’t know what to expect. But as a jagged rock scraped against me, leaving a gash in my back, I thought about what, and who I left behind, plus doing this proved I had no faith left in anything anywhere. What a precarious place the world is. We can understand how to solve things, fix things, control ourselves, but we still don't know why we exist. I looked at my arms remember what had happened. Maybe we'll find out. After all the pursuit of knowledge was the greatest factor.

One week earlier

I sat in class moping about how bored I was. I looked around at my class. The walls were plain grey, and the funds for the school literally wasn’t even enough to buy dirt, since there was only worn down, ragged, beat up desks, textbooks, and other school things that was a million years old. There was like one for everyone in the class when it came to materials. I looked around at everybody. There was Filip, my best friend. Filip, was an averaged, height guy, with blonde hair that was in a messed up foe-hawk, slight bluish eyes, average weight, little bit of muscle, and wore glasses. Strangely enough, he was the only guy I knew who could blend his popularity with his smarts. Sometimes, he was a bit off putting though. He's usually funny, but everyone has their off days. Other than that, he was surprisingly good at deciphering relationships, and hence called himself the love doctor. He was the reason I’m not a loner and fine with it as well. But then again, I had to scrape the bottom floors to build up. Everyone has an off side when it came to our school. It doesn't even have a name. Actually, scratch that. I went to That school high, in now where to be found, Invisible. Where your dream of actually dying of boredom becomes true! I thought sarcastically. It was almost impossible to not have a permanent frown around here. I was reading, my utmost favourite thing to do, while everyone was mulling around as the teacher was yelling at Simone and Matt, Matt for flirting with her, Simone for punching him in the face [seriously did that guy not learn the first three times it happened?] She went on about not doing it again, acting calmly, and leaving each other alone, but the desks went boy girl, boy girl, and nobody wanted to sit beside either of them, so they were left as they currently are. Matt was tall, big, with black skin and hair, brown eyes, and was good with sports, which is exactly why nobody thought he was a good match with Simone. She, was a bit short, paper thin, and not in the least docile. [It’s not proven but she might be a sociopath]. She had light green eyes, blonde hair, and a look that says, come closer and I’ll hurt you. Most people tended to stay away from her, and somehow, she was fine with that. I’m sure it’s another silly rumour, but it is around that she has a collection of battle ready swords, axes, and knives. Or daggers. It was probably only her that knew the difference. I snuck a glance at Matt. She had hit his cheek. It was a bit red, but otherwise fine. He caught my gaze, and he flushed, after mouthing Not involved, As he put his hands up. His hands were ashen. Always dry with his dollar store lotion. But despite everything, and to everyone's great surprise, Matt was doing it again. Then, to everyone's greater surprise, [for real this time] Josh slid beside them. Everyone knew Josh was a better match, even if he had no chance [because of reasons involving him and her]. Reason for that is he was short, thin, but hated sports, and probably spent half of his life on the computer, and the other half in bed. But he also had blonde hair, and light green eyes. He was good with photography, and knew how to work a computer like it was just a button you were told to press. He was never dressing to impress according to Filip, and his hair was probably just rolled up and scrunched bed hair. Maybe they should make a TV show out of them. The class was nothing to behold. It was just a row of thirty desks, two blackboards in the back with chalk the size of my fingernail, one window, and a barren shelf with nothing more than dust and cobwebs on it. Finally the bell rang, and saved again, was Matt and Josh. Or even Simone. I don’t even know. And I guess I never will.

Chapter 2 Max

Everyone is just so stupid; I thought as another hand shot up, asking my teacher to explain something for the millionth time. Well, maybe clever, but not definitely not in a million years, smart. Acting stupid, and being stupid are two different things. But, then again, I wasn't sure which one John, Braydon, And Mitch were being. How much class time was being wasted by them not wanting to learn? What I personally didn't understand most, was why they were rotating between distracting, and talking to Norah. What a hopeless infatuation. John was an average kid, with short cropped blonde hair, brown eyes, with an average weight and height. He always looked like he was focusing because his face was always scrunched up, but they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, although I always do, but at least I read the back of the cover as well. He seemed to always be the one who would start a conversation with someone who clearly didn't care [like me]. Then there was Braydon, the fastest kid alive, with his focused on who knows what complexion, and his weirdly shaped brown hair that seemed to just be gelled up everywhere to look like spikes that didn’t point up, and his brown eyes matching them. But what did I know [care] about that? Besides, if anyone stood a better chance with any girl it was him, for he was the greater athlete, and he has the mysterious edge, of being able to run at speeds I didn’t think possible, even if he isn't that tall. He was really thin too. And finally of three stooges, there was Mitch, same height as the other two, tanned skin, wild and curly brown hair and brown eyes, and like the other two, always wearing some sort of sports attire, from track pants to undershirts. They were always making dirty jokes, which I don't get at all. What does she said have anything to do with what I say? I can usual tell what people are thinking, but I don't understand girls at all, and according to Filip, nobody does. They smell fear? As if that made sense. Only things like wolves and other animals even had a chance at doing that. Maybe I’ll do an experiment one day. Although how would be the question. Norah was a pretty nice girl, with brown hair flowing down a bit pass her shoulder, brown eyes, and a smile that was supposedly nice says stooge three. The bell rang. Great. Will this class ever go on? We are at least ten classes behind in the first ten days. I thought I’d like this class because I’d stand out in academics, but clearly, that won't happen now. All I needed to know is that I could emasculate them in any way possible, unless it was sports.

Chapter 3 Filip

As I sat in class, I noticed the four of them constructively chatting away as Matt was getting punched [again]. There was Jac, Nice kid. Always easy to laugh. He had such a broad smile it was like someone stretched it to point where it looked like it would go off his face. He was short, and had almost bleached hair, and brown eyes. Today he was sporting a hoodie and sweatpants like usual. He was a good guy, but usually people think of him the wrong way. He was with Erica, who was his height, with brown hair going pass her shoulders, brown eyes, and a light smile. She was always wearing a headband, with some sort of track pants and sweater with vivant colours. Erica was always the one to welcome people in, and is in general, a nice person. As the love doctor, most people would say that they would go well together, but I know better. They regard each other as great friends, and I can understand that. Usually in this place relationships end quickly, and then someone screws something up while trying to become Just friends. And to think I spent all that time trying to help Oscar with that stupid chance. Funny thing though. He was like karma central, even if he didn’t do anything. Random things like Frisbees always passed harmlessly by everyone else, and then hit Oscar like it was targeting him. He didn’t appreciate the humour, but everyone else did. Then there was Lana and Connor. Not a match. Lana had long blonde hair, and eyelashes which were dark and made her light blue eyes stand out, and made the fact that under different lights, they change colour. She was tall, and intelligent, always making people crowd around her with the way she looks, and usually wears jeans and some form sweater or V-neck. She’s smarter than Connor and she's younger than us by one year. Sometimes, we talked about other people right in front of them because we both knew the same language that no one else knew. Of course that school high had only two grades and half of them were split classes from the low and ever so diminishing number of people. Then there was Connor. About her height, but mostly just brawn. His punches were a bit sloppy and slow though. He liked hockey, so naturally, fights are his thing. He has dark orange hair, and always has headphones, and every month it looked different because it the old one was broken. Enough said. I decided to go up to them. Connor was telling some story about a person who he beat up. When I got to them, he had seen the look of disapproval on Lana's face, and he said, don't worry, it isn’t true. I coughed and quickly said, Like your chances with her! That ticked him off. He tried some snappy comeback, but failed and ended with a bad word instead of saying anything. Then he said he'll beat me up, and tried to slap me. Typical. These days, it's a wonder how we get along. Then again our school has no name, I thought as the bell rung.

Chapter 4 Scott

I saw Harlyn, Ina, and Joslyn near the lockers, as I approached mine. They are like the rumour central of the school. Somehow, they know the secrets of almost everyone, and will tell you anyone else’s they know if you give them something off you. Harlyn seemed to be somewhat the center. She had brown hair and green eyes, and liked sports, especially swimming, but seemed to always be unlucky. I guess all the girls have one aspect of them that can make them fit into any group. For one thing they were all tall, so that gave them an edge to a lot of things. Including staring down at people. That tended to make people uncomfortable, especially because they could put on a really creepy face, and the shadow their face makes when looking down at you, just makes you want to retract into a shell. Ina was into horses, and things that could fly. She had light brown hair that was really long and hazel eyes. They were all a bit erratic though. And they had large cheekbones. Finally Joslyn had light brown hair and aqua eyes. Her hair went down a bit passed her shoulders, and for some reason, she really liked penguins. They almost were always wearing the exact same type of clothes only different coloured. Today they were all wearing jeans and a long sleeved shirt with moccasins or whatever. No one knows how they get along though. Some people wonder if they are even friends. Our school had a plain complexion, and I swear it had the powers of a chameleon. It's invisible to most. It's like someone could walk face first into it, and still not see it, and repeatedly doing it, until that person had the sense to walk around whatever was there. In the halls, there was no form of graduation photos, and all it was is a row of lockers with wall that had old grey paint that was chipping of to reveal cheap stone work. It was then, I saw Max approaching me. Max was intriguing. He was tall thin with brown eyes and hair. He was surprisingly like a TV character. A less hair version of a bowl cut seemed to be his hair style. He had the same pattern for what to wear every day, and never once left that routine. He claims he isn’t weird and crazy, everyone else is. He looked a bit miffed, and that probably meant he was mad, because there was usually no emotion on his face. It’s too bad he thinks poker is for thugs, because he would be the best poker player ever to be seen. Ever wish there were more to do than just sit around and wait for something to happen? I could see where he was coming from. Other than his weird liking of coming to school and learning. Our world has been getting a bit dull. Resources were all getting short, especially since no one seemed to know where they came from even though we got it from somewhere and the adults all seemed to disappear after school with everyone on edge just waiting for impending disaster. If only there was some way out.

Chapter 5 AbbyHey, Alexis said as she approached me. Ever hear of that old legend of the underground place of no return? No one knows if it's bad or good, but it can't get much worse than up here. This is hell. I nodded in agreement. Some people say that a couple of people went down there but they can't tell if they're alive because the trackers went blank and communications were lost.Maybe but- Alexis continued but was cut off. There might be a place that's better than this? Oscar exclaimed as he and Filip walked up. Can we get there? Cause at this point, any place is better than this dump. He claimed absently waving at the school. Oscar was a bit weird. He didn't like to talk about his ethnicity. He had black hair which was a bit spikey, and had front bangs. For some reason, he always looked different from the start of the day, to the end because of his hair, when it’s long. Couldn’t see why though. His dark brown eyes were intelligent, and piercing. It was like at any moment he was deciphering you like a book. He seemed to study everything. Kind of like Max only he limits who he talks to. So if Max ever talks to you and doesn't insult you, it's a compliment. That's because he thinks you’re smart enough. At least that’s what most people say. He does talk to me though. Oscar was pretty tall with a bit of a build, and had gotten thinner, but he seemed to like to be hidden, as if he was one with the shadows, and shining light on him will make him dissipate. People don’t usually speak of him that way, but he was like that around me. Anyways, I guess he was right; the lockers had enough space to put three textbooks, so we mostly carried our stuff around. For some reason, our motto and logic went by the term of ‘why clean? It’ll just get dirty again.’ Alexis spoke. Apparently, there's supposed to be a certain chant, and the entrance to this place will open if the right people arise and take to the challenge.Maybe we should try it. I suggested. Sure. Oscar said. But where would we look? I know a place where everyone goes for answers. Responded Filip Where? We all asked, eyebrows raised. I guess Filip knew we were expecting a lot, so he did a slight dramatic pause and said with all the spookiness he could muster without laughing The internet, he said, almost a whisper. We all laughed at that.

Chapter 6 Oscar

We found it, I said as Abby, Alexis, Filip and I searched it up. It didn't take long. Filip was right about it being magical. Abby smiled as she looked up. She had smooth blonde hair which reflected light just right, With deep blue eyes with a broad smile that made her eyes light up, which made her look cute in a good way, and as Filip said it: a good sense of style, since she was always wearing something creative. She was ample in a good sense, subtle, graceful, and blissful. Perfect for a girl, and an excellent mixture for being cute. I wish I wasn’t so awkward socially. It wasn’t something you could learn off a book. No amount of prepping, confidence, and predicting would prepare you for encounters with people. I could go on, but that's aside from the point. It says here, that you have one chance to say it, and it will never work again if you falter or stop Filip said mystified. So you can't recite it to us yet, is what you’re saying Alexis said disappointed. Alexis was average height with smooth dark brown hair, and brown eyes, with a light smile, and was always quick to make a joke. She had a small history with Filip, but that was taboo. She was similar to everyone when it came to style, but today she was wearing skinny jeans with a yellow sweater. What else is on there? I asked Well, it says it will open an entrance nearest to you, but we don't know how far that would be. Filip said "Well for all